Johnson & Johnson to pay $5.5bn settlement over baby powder lawsuits

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has offered to pay $5.5bn (£4.13bn) to resolve tens of thousands of lawsuits in the US alleging its talcum powder caused ovarian cancer.

The deal must be accepted by 95% of the ovarian cancer claimants in state or federal court before it becomes final.

Under the proposed resolution, J&J would make per-claim payments and has committed $5.5 billion in total.

J&J has denied that its talc-based products caused cancer and has changed the formula of its widely-used baby powder.